Balance-spring stud.



No. 772,106. PATENTED OUT. 11, 1904 R. LANGE.

BALANCE SPRING STUD.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 13, 1904.

10 MODEL.

Patented October 11, 1904.

PATENT OEEIcE.

RICHARD LANGE, OF GLASHIITTE, GERMANY.

BALANCE-SPRING STUD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 772,106, dated October11, 1904:.

Application filed May 13, 1904.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD LANeE. a subject of the King of Saxony, anda resident of Glashutte, Kingdom of Saxony, German Empire, have inventednew and useful Improvemen ts in Means for Securing Balance-Springs inWatches and Clocks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to means for securing balance-springs in watchesand clocks.

The improved means comprise a pair of jaws one of which is movable andarranged to grip the end of the spring under the action of a screwagainst the other jaw, which constitutes a wall, cheek, or face of thestud.

Hitherto it has been usual to secure the balance-spring both to thecollet and to the stud by means of pins. With this old arrangement, andespecially in the case of cheap watches and clocks, it is necessary toremove and replace the pin and also to lay the spring flat and bring oradjust it to the proper height every time it is required to adjust thelength of the spring for the purpose of regulation. By means of thepresent invention the said pins are entirely dispensed with.

The invention will be understood from the following description of anexample thereof.

Figure 1 shows in plan a balance-cock provided with thebalance-spring-clamping device according to the present invention. Fig.2 shows the under side of the balance-cock with the means for holdingthe stud carrying the jaws in such cock. Fig. 3 shows asection accordingto line A B in Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 the stud separated from thebalance-cock and showing a curved projection for inserting afixing-screw.

In carrying out the invention according to this example a recess orgroove a is turned or formed in the stud 6, and into this recess isfitted a movable jaw d, this being shaped to conform to the contour ofthe groove or recess and adapted to be moved transversely and paralleltherein by means of a screw 0 passing through the side of the stud. Thegroove or recess a is or may be of arc shape to conform to the curve ofthe spring a. The end of the spring a is inserted between this movablejaw (Z and the fixed jaw f, formed by Serial No. 207,719. (No model.)

the opposite side or wall of the groove or recess a in the stud L, andsecured by tightening up the screw 0, so as to grip the end of thespring 0 against the fixed jawf'. By sim ply loosening the screw 0 thespring 0 can be adjusted to any required extent in length and as to itsheight. As the spring 0 is freely movable between the loose and fixedjaws (Z f, its position is not altered either laterally or as to heightwhen the jaws are closed, but it lies flat again of itself on closingthe jaws.

For securing or holding the stud Z) in the balance-cock g the latter isprovided with a lateral recess /1 the curvature of which corresponds tothe circle drawn from the center 2' of the curved groove (0. In thisrecess 71 a curved projection 7c may be inserted, provided with aholefor receiving the screw Z, the head of which may be a countersunk one.

In disengaging the stud 6 from the balanceeock 9 it is only necessary tolift the screw Z in such a degree thatits head leaves the countersunkhole, whereupon the curved projection of the stud 6 may be withdrawnfrom the recess it, whereas if the stud shall be secured to thebalance-cock this projection is inserted to the recess 7L and the screwis screwed down, thereby holding by its countersunk head the stud in thebalance-cock.

This arrangement consequently presents important advantages over theknown method of securing balance-springs by pins. In the case of Brequetsprings the invention enables the small alteration of length which isfrequently necessary to be readily effected; but with flat springswithout overcoils in particular it permits of rapid regulation. It is nolonger necessary to lay or adjust the spring fiat each time; but thespring remains exactly in the circle of the curb-pins and parallel withthem. The height and flat lie of the spring regulates itselfautomatically, and thus the regulation of the watch or clock is greatlyfacilitated and a large saving in time and trouble effected. Moreover,injury or distortion of the spring is obviated. In the pinning methodthe spring is frequently injured in the round or curve of the hole andpressed hollow or dished. Further, the pin, which generally projects,prevents the regular uncoiling move- I00 ment of the spring. Thisdrawback also is obviated by securing the spring by means of jaws, asabove described. The spring is gripped for a uniform length on bothsides, retains its natural position, and is not injured, distorted, ordished.

What I claim is- 1. In a device for securing balance-springs in watchesand clocks, the combination with a stud having a recess therein, of amovable jaw located in said recess for receiving the spring between itand one wall of the recess and a screw inserted through the side of thestud back of the movable jaw and engaging the jaw for forcing it intoclamping position.

2. In a device for securing balance-springs in watches and clocks, thecombination with a balance-cock having a curved recess opening throughits side, of a stud having a curved projection located in said recess, ascrew engaging the cock and stud for clamping the stud to the cock, saidstud having a curved recess therein corresponding to the curved recessin the cock, a movable jaw located in the stud-recess for receiving thespring between it and one wall of the recess and a screw insertedthrough the side of the stud back of the movable jaw for forcing the jawinto clamping position.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed myname, in presence of two Witnesses, this 28th day of April, 1904.

RICHARD LANGE.

Witnesses:

ERNST C. MEYER, GEoRe HEUSSINZER.

